Hennessy Foundation

NEW YORK, NY EIN: 13-6153737

The Hennessy Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, NY, established in 1953 and designated as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization since July 1955. The foundation operates with no employees and focuses on providing funding for scholarships and various educational and community programs.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$1.5M

+0.1% YoY

Annual Giving

$190K

+5.7% YoY

Grant Count

-38.1% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$15K

+70.7% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Hennessy Foundation reported a distributable amount of $175K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's primary purpose is to provide funding for scholarships. Its grantmaking priorities include:

Education
Physical activities
Pet rescue
Youth inspiration and education through educational tours
Human services

Grantmaking

The foundation also supports specific programs including the Waterside School Horizons Summer Enrichment Program and Immaculate Conception Academy.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation's grantmaking is primarily concentrated in:

Connecticut
Idaho
New York

Grant Distribution by State

Connecticut $503K (56%)

California $115K (13%)

Idaho $98K (11%)

District of Columbia $70K (8%)

New York $40K (4%)

Massachusetts $33K (4%)

South Carolina $10K (1%)

Utah $10K (1%)

+4 more states

States

California Connecticut District of Columbia Idaho Illinois Massachusetts New York Ohio Pennsylvania South Carolina Utah Washington

Cities

BerkeleyBostonBridgeportBrooklynChelseaChicagoCincinnatiGreenwichHaileyIssaquahJamaica PlainKetchumNew CanaanNew YorkNorwalkPhiladelphiaRidgefieldSacramentoSalt Lake CitySan Francisco

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2023:

Total assets: $1,515,273
Total revenues: $96,664
Total expenses: $204,108
Total liabilities: $0

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$1,516,802	$1,515,273	$1,622,717
Revenue	$206,639	$96,664	$75,851
Expenses	$205,110	$204,108	$182,918
Qualifying Distributions	$190,000	$179,800	$169,000
Net Investment Income	$193,039	$92,666	$85,108
Distributable Amount	$175,381	$164,563	$164,487

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Grant Size Distribution

83 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Shepards Inc ($40,000), Lacrosse the Nation ($30,000), New Canaan High School ($25,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
PROSPECTOR THEATER Ridgefield, CT	IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY	$10,000
HAILEY ICE Hailey, ID	YOUTH SKATING PROGRAM	$5,000
HIGHER GROUND Ketchum, ID	PROVIDE ARTS EDUCATIONAL AND PHYSICAL PROGRAMS	$10,000
HORIZONS SUMMER PROGRAM New Canaan, CT	TO SUPPORT YOUTH SUMMER PROGRAMS	$10,000
ICA CRISTO REY ACADEMY San Francisco, CA	UNIFORM AND TRANSPORTATION NEEDS FOR YOUTH	$10,000
LACROSSE THE NATION Washington, DC	SUPPORT FOR WORLDWIDE LACROSSE PROGRAMS	$30,000
REACH PREP Stamford, CT	PROVIDE YOUTH WITH ART EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS	$10,000
SHEPARDS INC Bridgeport, CT	EMPOWERS INNER CITY TEENS BY PROVIDING COLLEGE PRE	$40,000
WHITBY SCHOOL Greenwich, CT	SCHOLARSHIP FUND	$10,000
EDUCATION JUSTICE ACADEMY Sacramento, CA	PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TRAINING TO NEXT GENERATION	$10,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
KATHLEEN HENNESSY	PRESIDENT	—	—
DAVID HENNESSY	VICE PRESIDENT	—	—

Contact Information

Address: c/o GDS Financial, 232 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (212) 599-8160

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Hennessy Foundation fund?

The foundation's primary purpose is to provide funding for scholarships. Its grantmaking priorities include: • Education • Physical activities • Pet rescue • Youth inspiration and education through educational tours • Human services

How do I apply for a grant from Hennessy Foundation?

**Grant Activity (2023):** • Total giving: $179,800 • Number of grants: 17 • Typical award range: $2,000–$30,000 **Recent Grant Recipients (2023):** • New Canaan High School Crew (Scholarship Fund): $25,000 • Education Justice Academy (Training Next Generation): $15,000 • Advocates for Children of New York (Protecting Children's Right to Education): $12,000 The foundation also supports specific programs including the Waterside School Horizons Summer Enrichment Program and Immaculate Conception …

Where does Hennessy Foundation make grants?

The foundation's grantmaking is primarily concentrated in: • Connecticut • Idaho • New York

What size grants does Hennessy Foundation award?

In 2024, Hennessy Foundation awarded 13 grants totaling $190K — an average of about $15K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Hennessy Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Hennessy Foundation reported a distributable amount of $175K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.